Updated in September 2026, this San Francisco Museum of Modern Art guide covers ticket prices, opening hours, parking, accessibility and what to see.
SFMOMA is a modern and contemporary art museum in San Francisco‘s SoMA district. SFMOMA paused its popular Free First Thursday programme in February 2026, a change some guides don’t yet reflect. This guide was updated in September 2026 to cover the current admission structure. You can book in advance through Viator before your visit.
Quick facts about SFMOMA
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Address | 151 Third Street, San Francisco, California 94103 |
| Opening hours | Mon–Tue 10am–5pm; Wed closed; Thu 12pm–8pm; Fri–Sun 10am–5pm |
| Adult admission | $30.00 |
| Senior admission (65+) | $25.00 |
| Student admission (full-time, with ID) | $23.00 |
| Age 18 and under | Free |
| Nearest transit | Montgomery St BART station |
| Typical visit duration | 2–3 hours |
Why book SFMOMA tickets?
- 🏛️ Always free for under-18s: Every visitor 18 and younger gets in at no charge, though a ticket is still required.
- 🎟️ A world-class collection: See work by Frida Kahlo, Andy Warhol, Ruth Asawa and Wayne Thiebaud under one roof.
- 🌿 A rooftop sculpture garden: Step outside on the fifth floor for large-scale works with San Francisco views.
- 📜 One of the largest of its kind: A 2016 expansion nearly tripled SFMOMA’s gallery space, making it one of the largest modern art museums in the country.
- 💰 Free galleries at street level: The Roberts Family Gallery, museum store and In Situ restaurant are open to all, no ticket needed.
Opening hours at SFMOMA
SFMOMA opens Monday and Tuesday from 10am to 5pm, and closes all day Wednesday. Thursday hours extend into the evening, from noon to 8pm. Friday to Sunday, the museum returns to its 10am–5pm schedule. SFMOMA closes on Thanksgiving and Christmas.
5 San Francisco experiences worth booking
- 🌉 Combine the Golden Gate Bridge, Muir Woods, Sausalito and Alcatraz on a packed day tour.
- 🌲 Take a day trip to the Giant Sequoias and the highlights of Yosemite National Park.
- 🌃 See the city lights at night on a San Francisco Bay cruise.
- 🍷 Go wine-tasting in the Napa and Sonoma Valleys on a full day wine tour.
- ✌️ Hit the hippie hotspots in a colourful VW bus on the San Francisco Love Tour.
Ticket prices for SFMOMA
| Ticket type | Price |
|---|---|
| Member | Free |
| Adult | $30.00 |
| Senior (65+) | $25.00 |
| Student (full-time, with ID) | $23.00 |
| Age 18 and under | Free |
Conference and convention attendees at Moscone Center receive a $4 discount by showing their badge at the ticket desk. Free First Thursday, which once waived admission for Bay Area residents one evening a month, has been paused since February 2026. Prices are current as of September 2026 and may change without notice. You can book through Viator to guarantee entry on your preferred day.
How to get to SFMOMA
By BART or Muni, the museum is a short walk from Montgomery Street station, with several Muni lines stopping within two blocks.
On foot, SFMOMA is just steps from Yerba Buena Gardens, Union Square and Moscone Center.
By car, the SFMOMA Garage on Minna Street is a few steps from the main entrance.
Parking at SFMOMA
The SFMOMA Garage, at 147 Minna Street, charges $4 per 30 minutes, up to $26 for 10 hours or $35 for 24 hours. Non-members get a 10% discount on the first 3.5 hours when validated at the Haas Jr. Atrium on Floor 1.
How long to spend at SFMOMA
Most visitors spend two to three hours across the museum’s seven floors. Add extra time for a guided or audio tour, or lunch on the fifth floor.
Accessibility at SFMOMA
The museum entrance and every floor are accessible to wheelchair and mobility-device users, with an accessible drop-off point on Third Street and push-button doors. Manual wheelchairs, gallery stools and canes can be borrowed free of charge at Coat Check on Floor 1. Braille and large-print guides, audio descriptions and a sensory guide are also available.
What to see at SFMOMA
The permanent collection. Around 26,000 works span the 20th and 21st centuries, including pieces by Frida Kahlo, Andy Warhol, Ruth Asawa, Wayne Thiebaud, Frank Stella and Julie Mehretu.
The Fisher Collection. Donated by Doris and Donald Fisher, this major collection has recently been reinstalled in dedicated galleries with a fresh approach to storytelling.
The Rooftop Garden. A fifth-floor sculpture garden and pavilion display large-scale works by artists including Alexander Calder, Louise Bourgeois and Barnett Newman.
The SFMOMA Audio Guide. A free, location-aware app offers audio storytelling from artists, comedians and others as you move through the galleries.
In Situ and the Museum Store. Both sit on the ground floor and are open to everyone, with no museum ticket required.
Practical tips for visiting SFMOMA
| Tip | Detail |
|---|---|
| Visit on a Thursday evening | The museum stays open until 8pm, later than any other day of the week. |
| Check current free days | Free First Thursday is paused, but occasional Free Family Days still run through the year. |
| Validate your parking | Non-members get a discount at Coat Check on Floor 1, within the first 3.5 hours. |
| Bring headphones | The SFMOMA Audio Guide app is free and works throughout the galleries. |
| Book tickets in advance | Advance booking is recommended, especially at weekends, and you can book through Viator. |
Frequently asked questions about SFMOMA
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Is admission still free for under-18s? | Yes, everyone 18 and under gets in free, though a free ticket is still required. |
| Is Free First Thursday still running? | No, it’s been paused since February 2026. |
| What are the current opening hours? | Mon–Tue 10am–5pm, closed Wednesday, Thursday noon–8pm, Fri–Sun 10am–5pm. |
| Is SFMOMA wheelchair accessible? | Yes, the entrance and every floor are accessible, with free mobility equipment loans available. |
| Should I book in advance? | Yes, particularly at weekends. You can book in advance through Viator. |
Things to do near SFMOMA
Yerba Buena Gardens is a landscaped park a short walk away, with fountains, lawns and rotating public art.
The Contemporary Jewish Museum is a short walk from SFMOMA, in a building designed by Daniel Libeskind.
The Museum of the African Diaspora is within easy walking distance, focusing on art and culture from across the African diaspora.
Moscone Center, San Francisco’s main convention centre, is directly across the street.
Union Square has the city’s main concentration of shops and department stores, a short walk away.
Alternative attractions to SFMOMA
The de Young Museum, in Golden Gate Park, covers American art, textiles and design from around the world, about a 20-minute drive away.
The Legion of Honor, overlooking the Pacific in Lincoln Park, focuses on European art and features an outdoor sculpture garden, about a 20-minute drive away.
The Asian Art Museum, near San Francisco’s Civic Center, holds one of the largest collections of Asian art outside Asia, a short ride away.
The Exploratorium, on the Embarcadero, is a hands-on science museum popular with families, about a 15-minute walk away.
Berkeley Art Museum and Pacific Film Archive, at the University of California, Berkeley, pairs contemporary art with an influential film programme, about 30 minutes away by BART.
More San Francisco travel
Other San Francisco travel guides on Planet Whitley include:
- Complete guide to day tours to Monterey and Carmel from San Francisco.
- What’s the point of the Wave Organ in San Francisco?
- Visitor guide to Fort Point by the Golden Gate Bridge.
- Practical guide to visiting the American Bookbinders Museum in San Francisco.
- Entry fees, opening hours and visitor tips for Grace Cathedral in San Francisco.
